Janelle Monáe Is 2018's Trailblazer at Streets Talkin Women in Music

December 7, 2018

“By us strolling in our truths, it will possibly generally give the subsequent particular person the braveness to stroll in theirs,” she mentioned

Janelle Monáe seemed again on a yr and private milestones whereas accepting the Trailblazer award at Streets Talkin's 13th annual Women in Music ceremony at New York's Pier 36 on Thursday (Dec. 6).

“Being a trailblazer is about diving into areas unseen and undiscovered,” Monáe mentioned. “For me, that meant uncovering elements of who I’m to be able to make areas for others.”

The singer's critically acclaimed third studio album, Dirty Computer, arrived in April. That month, she additionally got here out as queer in a Rolling Stone cowl story. While discovering a brand new path "usually contains bitter battles with anxiousness and despair [and] requires blind religion and a very good therapist," Monáe mentioned, the chance to provide again to her neighborhood makes it price it: "I hope that by doing so I’ve created just a little extra mild for somebody attempting to find themselves."

Monáe additionally recounted a narrative about how the earlier night time, a fan instructed her that Dirty Computer impressed her to return out to her mom and grandmother. "Moments like these, they remind you [that], it doesn’t matter what's happening in your life, how dangerous you’re feeling, by us strolling in our truths, it will possibly generally give the subsequent particular person the braveness to stroll in theirs," she mentioned.

Rising rapper Tierra Whack introduced Monáe with the award. In her introduction, she praised the way in which Monáe blazes her personal path whereas inspiring others to not observe, however to search out their very own paths as properly: “In being her personal stunning self, she encourages you, me and all of us to be our stunning selves too.” (The feeling is mutual: "The approach you’re innovating proper now’s so inspiring me," Monáe instructed Whack. "Keep going. Go additional than the place I’m taking it.")

Monae is considered one of a number of 2018 Women in Music honorees, together with Ariana Grande (Woman of the Year), Cyndi Lauper (accepting the Icon award), Kacey Musgraves (the Innovator award), SZA (the Rule Breaker award) and Hayley Kiyoko (the Rising Star award).